Poland will send an additional 400 troops to Afghanistan, where a contingent of 1,600 Polish troops are already stationed, PM Donald Tusk confirmed on Tuesday. The move is aimed at bolstering security in the lead-up to the country's August elections.

“We have taken today a decision to formally ask the president to increase our contingent by 400 soldiers,” Tusk told a news conference.

“It is related to the elections in Afghanistan and we are all aware the situation there will not be any easier over the weeks to come. Sending more troops is justified from the point of view of our own forces' security there,” Tusk added.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO's Secretary-General, recently called for an additional 4,000 soldiers for the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan to maintain security during the elections.

Source: Reuters